Hoist rigging assembly for crane apparatus and the like



Jan. 11', 1966 c. H. BUTCHER 3,228,535

HOIST RIGGING ASSEMBLY FOR CRANE APPARATUS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 27, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR CHARLES H. Bu-rcuez ATTORNEY Jan. 11, 1966 3, BUTCHER 3,228,535

HOIST RIGGING ASSEMBLY FOR CRANE APPARATUS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 27, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Jan. 11, 1966 c. H. BUTCHER HOIST RIGGING ASSEMBLY FOR CRANE APPARATUS AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 27, 1964 Jan. 11, 1966 c. H. BUTCHER HOIST RIGGING ASSEMBLY FOR CRANE APPARATUS AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 27. 1964 INVENTOR Jan. 11, 1966 c. H. BUTCHER HOIST RIGGING ASSEMBLY FOR CRANE APPARATUS AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 27, 1964 MAsT SHEAVE INVENTOR CHARLE$ H. BUTCHER.

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ATTORNEY BY Yvlcum'w United States Patent 3,228,535 HOIST RIGGING ASSEMBLY FGR CRANE APPARATUS AND THE LIKE Charles H. Butcher, Marion, Ohio, assignor to Universal Marion Corporation, Jacksonville, Fla, a corporation of Florida Filed Jan. 27, 1964, Ser. No. 341,156 4 (Ilaims. (Cl. 212-58) This invention relates to material handling apparatus and more particularly to a crane apparatus and the like having a novel hoist rigging assembly.

In most conventional crane apparatus, the lifting and lowering of the boom is accomplished by means of a hoist rigging assembly generally consisting of a system of sheaves and a running line reeved on the sheaves, having one end anchored to the crane cab and the opposite end there-of operatively connected to .a hoist drum usually mounted in the crane cab. Such an assembly normally operatively interconnects the crane cab with either the upper terminus of the boom directly, or With the upper terminus of a boom mast which is connected to the upper terminus of the boom by means of suitable boom pendants. In the prior art, it has been found that most conventional hoist rigging assemblies produce an uneven load on the boom during lifting and lowering operations, which is undesirable. This uneven load further has been found to be caused by the uneven load developed between the live and dead end of the running line which eventually is transferred to the boom.

Accordingly, the principal object of this invention is to provide an improved crane apparatus.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved crane apparatus having a novel hoist rigging assembly.

A further object of this invention is to provide a crane apparatus having a novel hoist rigging assembly which substantially eliminates any lateral loads applied to the boom during normal lifting and lowering operations of the boom.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel hoist rigging assembly for crane apparatus and the like, consisting of a system of sheaves and a running line reeved on the sheaves, which will eliminate the transfer of the uneven load developed be-tween the live and the dead end of the running line to the boom.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel hoist rigging assembly for crane apparatus and the like, which is relatively simple to assemble and operate, and which is comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those persons skilled in the art in the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention, having portions thereof broken away;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged elevational view of a portion of the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1, having portion thereof broken away and illustrating the boom in broken lines in a lower position;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the novel hoist rigging assembly illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a side view of the assembly illustrated in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIGURE 3;

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FIGURE 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 88 in FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 9 is a schematic diagram of the reeving of the hoist rigging assembly illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4.

Briefly described, the present invention provides a crane apparatus generally comprising a support means, a cab structure mounted on the support means, a boom pivotally connected to the cab structure for movement in a vertical plane in the conventional manner, a boom mast pivotally connected to the cab structure for movement in the same vertical plane as the boom, boom pendants interconnecting the upper termini of the boom and the boom mast, and a hoist rigging assembly operatively interconnecting suitable connecting means mounted on the top surface of the cab structure and the upper terminus of the boom mast. The hoist rigging assembly generally comprises a first sheave assembly operatively connected to connecting means provided on the top surface of the cab structure, a second sheave assembly operatively connected to the upper terminus of the boom mast, and a line reeved on the sheaves of the assemblies having one end anchored to the cab structure and the opposite end operatively connected to the hoisting mechanism mounted in the cab structure. The sheaves of the second sheave assembly disposed adjacent the upper terminus of the boom mast are positioned relative to the vertical plane of movement of the boom so that the lateral forces applied to the boom during the operation of the rigging assembly in lifting and lowering the boom, caused by the uneven load between the live end and dead end of the line, are substantially eliminated.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIGURE 1 illustrates a perspective view of a crane apparatus generally comprising a vehicle 10 having a support frame 12 for supporting a cab structure 13 on the forward end thereof and a crane cab structure 14 disposed rearwardly of the vehicle cab structure 13. Detachably mounted on the front end of the crane cab structure 14 for pivotal movement in a vertical plane is an extensive boom 15, having a telescopic stop assembly 16 operatively interconnecting the crane cab structure and a top portion of the boom. The boom is supported by means of boom pendants 17, which operatively interconnect the upper terminus of the boom and a sheave block 18 mounted on the upper terminus of a boom mast 19, which is pivotally connected at its lower end to the front end of the crane cab structure, adjacent the pivotal connection of the boom. The angle of the boom mast and, correspondingly, of the boom, is controlled by a hoist rigging assembly 20, operatively interconnecting the upper terminus of the boom mast and a support frame 21 mounted on the top surface of the crane cab structure 14.

The support frame 21 mounted on the top surface of the crane cab structure is provided with a pair of spaced, upstanding bracket members 22 and 23 and a pair of longitudinally extending side members 24 and 25 which are supported at the forward ends thereof on upstanding bracket members 26 and 27, to which the lower ends of the telescopic stop assembly 16 are connected. Journaled in the upstanding bracket members 22 and 23 is a lower bar member 28 having a pair of arm members 29 and 36, connected at the upper ends thereof with an upper bar member or bridle 31 to define a gantry. The forwardly disposed upstanding bracket members 26 and 27 are provided with a pivotally mounted support member 32, having a pair of spaced arm members 33 and 34 which have suitably configured end portions for receiving and seating the upper bar member or gantry bridle 31. The lower bar member 28 is provided with a. pair of freely running guide sheaves 35 and 36 lying in the same planes as freely running guide sheaves 37 and 38, respectively, mounted on the ends of the upper bar member 31 adjacent the arm members 29 and 39.

Connected for .pivotal movement in a vertical plane relative to the gantry is a lower sheave mounting member 39. As 'best illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7, the mounting member 39 is provided with a pair of spaced, transversely extending plate members 40 and 41, held in spaced relation by means of suitable bolts 42. Journaled in the plate members 40 and 41 is an intermediate shaft 43 having a flanged end 44 abutting the outside surface of plate member 40 and having its axis lying substantially in the vertical ,plane of movement of the boom defining a datum plane. Rotatably mounted on the shaft 43 is an intermediate sheave 45. Also journaled in the plate members 40 and 41 are shafts 46 and 47, having their axes in vertical planes disposed parallel to and equidistant from the datum plane, including the axis of intermediate shaft 43. The shaft 46 is provided with a sheave 48 interposed between a boss 49 disposed on the outside surface of the plate member 4t and an annular flange portion 56 of the shaft 46, and a sheave 51 which is mounted bet-ween the plate members 40 and 41. Similarly, the shaft 47 is provided with a sheave 52 disposed between a boss 53 disposed on the outside surface of plate member 46 and an annular flange portion 54 of the shaft 47, and a sheave 55 mounted on the shaft 47 between the plate members 46 and 41. The mounting member 39 is hinged-1y connected to the upper bar member or gantry bridle 31, by means of a pair of U-shaped linking members 56 and 57 which straddle the upper bar member 31 and are mounted on the shaft members 46 and 47 between the plate members 40 and 41.

The shafts 43, 46 and 47 are provided With bushings for mounting the sheaves, which are lubricated through passageways in the shafts having suitable lubricating fittings.

The hoist rigging assembly also is provided with an upper sheave mounting member 58, which is adapted to be connected to the upper terminus of the boom mast 19 by means of a connecting pin 59 for pivotal movement in the datum plane. As best illustrated in FIGURE 8, the mounting member 58, generally defines a clevis having a transverse opening 60 at the upper end thereof for receiving the connecting pin 59 therethrough, and spaced ear portions .61, 62 and 63. The spaced ear portions of the member 58 are provided with suitable openings for receiving a shaft member 64 therethrough having an annular flanged portion 65 at one end thereof, which abuts the outside surface of the ear portion 63, a suitable pin 66 on the opposite end thereof for retaining the shaft 64 in position. Rotatably mounted on the shaft 64 be tween the ear portions 61 and 62 is a pair of sheaves 67 and .68. Similarly, a pair of sheaves 69 and 70 isrotatably mounted on the shaft 64 between ear portions 62 and 63. The shaft 64 is provided with suitable bushings and lubricating fittings 71 and 72, communicating with suitable fluid passageways in the shaft 64 for lubricating the bushings. It will be appreciated that the axis of connecting pin 59 is disposed substantially normal to the vertical plane of movement of the boom 15 so that the mounting member 58 is pivotal and the axis of the shaft 64 lies in the same vertical plane of movement of the boom defining the datum plane.

Referring principally to the schematic diagram in FIG- URE ,9, the reeving for the sheaves mounted on the gantry, the mounting member 39 and the mounting member 58 consists of a wire rope 73, having one end thereof anchored to the side member 25 of the support frame 21, as at 74 in FIGURE 5, extending rearwardly and around guide sheave 36, passing guide sheaves 38 and 52, up and around sheave 69, down and around sheave 55, up and around sheave 68, down and around sheave 45, up and around sheave 67, down and around sheave 51,

4 up and around sheave 79, down and passing over sheave 48 and guide sheave 37, down and around guide sheave 35, forwardly and around idle sheave 75 mounted on bracket 26 and having the opposite end thereof operatively connected to a hoist drum 76 mounted in the crane cab structure.

In operation, whenever the boom is raised or lowered, the hoist drum 76 is operated either to play out or take in the Wire rope 73 in the conventional manner. In view of the fact that the axis of the shaft 64 lies in the vertical plane of movement of the boom, 21 minimum amount of uneven load between the dead end of the rope 73 anchored as at 74, and the live end thereof operatively connected to the hoist drum 76, is transferred to the boom mast sheave block 18 and, correspondingly, to the upper terminus of the boom by means of the boom pendants 17.

From the foregoing detailed description it will be evident that there are a number of changes, adaptations and modifications of the present invention which come within the province of those skilled in the art. However, it is intended that all such variations not departing from the spirit of the invention be considered as within the scope thereof as limited solely by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A hoist rigging assembly for a crane apparatus and the like having a support frame for the assembly and a boom mast comprising a first sheave assembly mounted on mounting means operatively connectable to said support frame, said first sheave assembly including an intermediate sheave having its axis lying in the vertical plane of movement of said boom mast defining a datum plane, first and second axially spaced sheaves having a common axis lying in a plane parallel to said datum plane and third and fourth axially spaced sheaves having a common axis lying in a plane parallel to said datum plane and equidistant therefrom relative to the plane including the axes of said first and second sheaves, a second sheave assembly mounted on mounting means operatively connectable to the upper terminus of said boom mast, said second sheave assembly having first, second, third and fourth sheaves having a common axis lying in said datum plane and a line having one end attachable to said apparatus passing over the third sheave of said first sheave assembly, up and around the second sheave of said second sheave assembly, down and around the fourth sheave of said first sheave assembly, up and around the third sheave of said second sheave assembly, down and around the intermediate sheave of said first sheave assembly, up and around the fourth sheave of said second sheave assembly, down and around the second sheave of said first sheave assembly, up and around the first sheave of said second sheave assembly, down and passing over the first sheave of said first sheave assembly and having its opposite end operatively connectable to a hoisting means mounted on said apparatus.

2. A hoist rigging assembly for a craneapparatus and the like having a pair of upstanding brackets mounted on the top surface of the crane cab and a boom mast pivotally connected to the crane cab for movement in a vertical plane comprising a lower bar member journaled in said upstanding bracket members, first and second guide sheaves mounted on said lower bar member, said lower bar member having a pair of arm members, an upper bar member mounted on the upper ends of said arm members, first and second sheaves mounted on said upper bar member, a first sheave mounting member hingedly connected to said upper bar member for movement in a vertical plane, a first sheave assembly mounted on said first sheave mounting member including an intermediate sheave having its axis lying in the vertical plane of movement of said boom mast defining a datum plane, first and second axially spaced sheaves having a common axis lying in a plane parallel to said datum plane and third and fourth axially spaced sheaves having a common axis lying in a plane parallel to said datum plane and equidistant therefrom relative to the plane including the axis of said first and second sheaves, a second sheave mounting member operatively connectable to the upper terminus of said boom mast, a second sheave assembly mounted on said second sheave mounting member including first, second, third and fourth sheaves having a common axis lying in said datum plane and a wire rope having one end attachable to said apparatus passing around the first guide sheave on said lower bar member, passing over said second guide sheave on said upper bar member, passing over the third sheave of said first sheave assembly, up and over the second sheave of said second sheave assembly, down and around the fourth sheave of said first sheave assembly, up and around the third sheave of said second sheave assembly, down and around the intermediate sheave of said first sheave assembly, up and around the fourth sheave of said second sheave assembly, down and around the second sheave of said first sheave assembly, up and around the first sheave of said second sheave assembly, down and passing over the first sheave of said first sheave assembly and the second guide sheave on said upper bar member, down and around the second sheave on said lower bar member and having its opposite end operatively connectable to a hoisting means mounted on said apparatus.

3. A crane apparatus comprising a support means, a cab structure mounted on said support means, a boom pivotally connected to said cab structure for movement in a vertical plane, a boom mast pivotally connected to said cab structure for movement in the same vertical plane as said boom, boom pendants interconnecting the upper terminii of said boom and boom mast and a hoist rigging assembly interconnecting connecting means mounted on the top surface of said cab structure and the upper terminus of said boom mast comprising a first sheave assembly mounted on mounting means operatively connected to said connecting means, said first sheave assembly including an intermediate sheave having its axis lying in the vertical plane of movement of said boom defining a datum plane, first and second axially spaced sheaves having a common axis lying in a plane parallel to said datum plane and third and fourth axially spaced sheaves having a common axis lying in a plane parallel to said datum plane and equidistant therefrom relative to the plane including the axes of said first and second sheaves, a second sheave assembly mounted on mounting means operatively connected to the upper terminus of said boom mast, said second sheave assembly having first, second, third and fourth sheaves having a common axis lying in said datum plane and a line having one end anchored to said cab structure passing over the third sheave of said first sheave assembly, up and around the second sheave of said second sheave assembly, down and around the fourth sheave of said first sheave assembly, up and around the third sheave of said second sheave assembly, down and around the intermediate sheave of said first sheave assembly, up and around the fourth sheave of said second sheave assembly, down and around the second sheave of said first sheave assembly, up and around the first sheave of said second sheave assembly, down and passing over the first sheave of said first sheave assembly and having its opposite end operatively connected to a hoisting means mounted on said cab structure.

4. A crane apparatus comprising a support means, a cab structure mounted on said support means, a boom pivotally connected to said cab structure for movement in a vertical plane, a boom mast pivotally connected to said cab structure for movement in the same vertical plane as said boom, boom pendants interconnecting :the upper termini of said boom and boom mast and a hoist rigging assembly interconnecting a pair of upstanding brackets mounted on the top surface of said cab structure and the upper terminus of said boom mast comprising a lower bar member journaled in said up standing bracket members, first and second guide sheaves mounted on said lower bar member, said lower bar member having a pair of arm members, an upper bar member mounted on the upper ends of said arm members, first and second sheaves mounted on said upper bar member, a first sheave mounting member hingedly connected to said upper bar member for movement in a vertical plane, a first sheave assembly mounted on said first sheave mounting member including an intermediate sheave having its axis lying in the vertical plane of movement of said boom mast defining a datum plane, first and second axially spaced sheaves having a common axis lying in a plane parallel to said datum plane and third and fourth axially spaced sheaves having a common axis lying in a plane parallel to said datum plane and equidistant therefrom relative to the plane including the axis of said first and second sheaves, a second sheave mounting member operatively connected to the upper terminus of said boom mast, a second sheave assembly mounted on said second sheave mounting member including first, second, third and fourth sheaves having a common axis lying in said datum plane and a Wire rope having one end anchored to said cab structure passing around the first guide sheave on said lower bar member, passing over said second guide sheave on said upper bar member, passing over the third sheave of said first sheave assembly, up and over the second sheave of said second sheave assembly, down and around the fourth sheave of said first sheave assembly, up and around the third sheave of said second sheave assembly, down and around the intermediate sheave of said first sheave assembly, up and around the fourth sheave of said second sheave assembly, down and around the second sheave of said first sheave assembly, up and around the first sheave of said second sheave assembly, down and passing over the first sheave of said first sheave assembly and the second guide sheave on said upper bar member, down and around the second sheave on said lower bar member and having its opposite end operatively connected to a hoisting mechanism mounted on said cab structure.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,420,163 5/1947 Borsini 21259 2,666,532 1/1954 Shoemaker 212 2,999,601 9/1961 Mork 21259 3,072,265 1/1963 Nickles 21259 SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

A. L. LEVINE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A HOIST RIGGING ASSEMBLY FOT A CRANE APPARATUS AND THE LIKE HAVING A SUPPORT FRAME FOR THE ASSEMBLY AND A BOOM MAST COMPRISING A FIRST SHEAVE ASSEMBLY MOUNTED ON A MOUNTING MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTABLE TO SAID SUPPORT FRAME, SAID FIRST SHEAVE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING AN INTERMEDIATE SHEAVE HAVING ITS AXIS LYING IN THE VERTICAL PLANE OF MOVEMENT OF SAID BOOM MAST DEFINING A DATUM PLANE, FIRST AND SECOND AXIALLY SPACED SHEAVES HAVING A COMMON AXIS LYING IN A PLANE PARALLEL TO SAID DATUM PLANE AND THIRD AND FOURTH AXIALLY SPACED SHEAVES HAVING A COMMON AXIS LYING IN A PLANE PARALLEL TO SAID DATUM PLANE AND EQUIDISTANT THEREFROM RELATIVE TO THE PLANE INCLUDING THE AXES OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND SHEAVES, A SECOND SHEAVE ASSEMBLY MOUNTED ON MOUNTING MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTABLE TO THE UPPER TERMINUS OF SAID BOOM MAST, SAID SECOND SHEAVE ASSEMBLY HAVING FIRST, SECOND, THIRD AND FOURTH SHEAVES HAVING A COMMON AXIS LYING IN SAID DATUM PLANE AND A LINE HAVING ONE END ATTACHABLE TO SAID APPARATUS PASSING OVER THE THIRD SHEAVE OF SAID THIRD SHEAVE ASSEMBLY, UP AND AROUND THE SECOND SHEAVE OF SAID SECOND SHEAVE ASSEMBLY, DOWN AND AROUND THE FOURTH SHEAVE OF SAID FIRST SHEAVE ASSEMBLY, UP AND AROUND THE THIRD SHEAVE OF SAID SECOND SHEAVE ASSEMBLY, DOWN AND AROUND THE INTERMEDIATE SHEAVE OF SAID FIRST SHEAVE ASSEMBLY, UP AND AROUND THE FOURTH SHEAVE OF SAID SECOND SHEAVE ASSEMBLY, DOWN AND AROUND THE SECOND SHEAVE OF SAID FORST SHEAVE ASSEMBLY, UP AND AROUND THE FIRST SHEAVE OF SAID SECOND SHEAVE ASSEMBLY, DOWN AND PASSING OVER THE FIRST SHEAVE OF SAID FIRST SHEAVE ASSEMBLY AND HAVING ITS OPPOSITE END OPERATIVELY CONNECTABLE TO A HOUSING MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID APPARATUS. 